1. SOURCES AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY
Topic objectives
By the end of this topic, every form one should be able to do
the following:
1. 1. Explain the
meaning of History
2. 2. Explain the
importance of studying History
3. 3. Identify
sources of History
4. 4. Assess the
functions, advantages and limitations of sources of History such as:
A. Oral
traditions
B. Historical
sites
C. Written
records
D. Archives
E. Museums
F. Archaeology
G. Linguistics
H. Anthropology.
What is history?
History is defined as the study of the past and present human activities.
History is the study of the past and present human activities in order to prepare for future. These activities may include commerce, education, transport, agriculture or industries.
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING HISTORY
1. It helps us to understand how African societies were formed: this include to know how they developed and the factors that influenced this development.
2. It helps us to understand the past, and present events: Example of past event are such as the First world war (WWI) in 1914-1918.
3. It provides us knowledge on prediction about the human future. Through studying the past and present events.
4. It provides us knowledge on cultural development: the knowledge of studying history help us to understanding and appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and technological advancements made by African societies before and after colonial rulers.
5. It helps us to understand the relationships between man and man: Example African and European societies.
6. It helps to understand the relationship between man and his environment: example the environment which support pastoralism, crop cultivation, fishing, etc.
7. It helps to understand the level of development reached by the past society: Through investigating of past human tools and other materials.
SOURCES OF HISTORY
Sources of history: Refers to the events that can be used to get historical information. Normally history reconstruct itself through various sources. It requires inter-disciplinary Sources of history approach in order to get the actual historical information.
Therefore, the following are sources of history/historical knowledge:
i. Oral tradition
ii. Historical sites
iii. Written records/documents
iv. Archives
v. Museums
vi. Archeology
vii. Audio- visual record, e.g. Cassets, Cd’s, and TV programs etc.
viii. Anthropology
ix. Linguistics
1.ORAL TRADITION
Oral tradition: This is the method of reconstructing historical information by means of words of mouth from one generation to another generation.
Types of oral tradition
Oral tradition passes historical information two ways:
i. Culture practices: these are things like art, music, religion, riddles, songs, proverbs, superstition, poems and stories.
ii. Narration of past events: these are events related to past historical informations.
FUNCTIONS OF ORAL TRADITIONS
1. To entertain society.
2. To promote societal cultural values.
3. To provide warning to the society.
4. To educate societies.
5. To build unity and cooperation towards the societies.
ADVANTAGES OF ORAL TRADITION
1. It preserve and reveal historical information which are not recorded.
2. Both illiterate and literate people can be easy to get information.
3. It provide warning and teachings to the society.
4. It is cheapest method of harvesting historical informations.
5. It is live source of history, since it involves physical interaction.
6. It provides entertainment to the society.
7. It encourages proper moral values.
8. It encourages cultural development.
DISADVANTAGES OF ORAL TRADITION
1. The historical information vary from one society to another.
2. It can provide wrong historical informations. Due to poor interpretation.
3. It concentrates much on studying of famous societies. E.g history of Kings, Queens etc.
4. Difficult in periodization of historical events.
5. Translation is very difficult because some languages are no longer in existence.
6. It focus much on cultural aspects.
2. HISTORICAL SITES
Historical sites: Are special places where by the past human remains can be found and shown to the public. It is a place where the remains of once lived human in the past can be found. They comprise man’s physical development, tools that were made and used from time to time.
Examples of historical sites in E. African
In Tanzania
i. Isimila.
ii. Olduvai George.
iii. Kondoa Irangi.
iv. Bagamoyo.
v. Zanzibar stone town.
vi. Kilwa.
vii. Mafia.
viii. Engaruka.
ix. Kagera.
x. Kaole.
xi. Mikindani
xii. Magubike
In Uganda
i. Nsongezi.
ii. Biggo.
iii. Ntumbi.
iv. Magosi and Ishago.
v. Lolui.
In Kenya
i. Lake Rudolf (Turkana).
ii. Lake Naivasha.
iii. Njoro.
iv. Olorgesailie.
v. Lake Magadi.
vi. Lamu.
vii. Mombasa and mt. Kenya.
viii. Fort Jesus.
ix. Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria.
x. Gomble caves.
xi. Fort Ternan.
ADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES
1. They help for practical historical learning e.g. through observation of past human tools, rock, paints.
2. They help to reveal the past settlement patterns, levels of technology, economic development and political organization reached by the past societies.
3. They encourage tourism industry
4. They helps in transforming theoretical teaching of history to practical historical learning.
5. They serve as the resource centers for historical researchers.
6. They provides employment opportunities e.g guiders
LIMITATIONS/WEAKNESS/SHORTCOMINGS/DISADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES
1. It brings confusion to interpret the remains found in historical sites.
2. Many of historical sites are found on remote areas hence difficult for many people to visit them.
3. The method cannot reveal the language spoken by the past societies.
4. The method cannot investigate the lost materials in a respective area.
5. It brings difficult in identifying the specific time where some materials were formed.
6. It cannot provide the reasons behind some materials.
MAP OF EAST AFRICA SHOWING IMPORTANT HISTORICAL SITES
 |
| Historical Sites East Africa |
3. ARCHEOLOGY
Archaeology: Is the scientific method based on studying of past human remains by using advanced method like carbon fourteen (14). The excavation of land to obtain the past human remains is done by using special equipments like Trowels, Picks, Shovels and hoes.
A person specialized in archeology is called ARCHAEOLOGIST. Archaeology involves excavations (digging) and interpretation of past human remains like animal bones and the past human used tools which include both iron and stone tools like hoes, utensils, bows, arrows, plant seeds, ancient buildings, irrigation channels and iron smelting furnaces. However, the past human remains are called archaeological materials.
The famous archaeologist in East Africa were Dr. Louis Leakey with his wife Mary Leakey. Archaeology involves the use of carbon fourteen 14 machine to determine the age plants and animal remains. Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife Mary Leakey they discovered the skull of earliest man called Zinjanthropus at Olduvai Gorge (Arusha) in Tanzania in 1959.
Another archaeologist in Tanzania is Professor Felix Chami who conducted archaeological studies along the coast of eastern Africa. Other senior archaeologists in Tanzania include Amin Mturi, Simon Waane, Bertram Mapunda and Audax Mabula. The skull of earliest man in Tanzania (Zinjanthropus) is believed to be lived in about 500 million years ago. Carbon fourteen has ablity to investigate the age of past materials lived beyond 500 million years ago.
The place where the past human remains are founds is called archaeological sites.
EXAMPLE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN EAST AFRICA
Archaeological sites in Tanzania
i. Olduvai Gorge (Arusha.
ii. Engaruka (Arusha).
iii. Ismila (Iringa).
iv. Kaole (Bagamoyo).
v.Kilwa (Lindi).
vi. Kondoa rock paintings (Dodoma).
Archaeological sites in Kenya
i. Koobi Fora
ii. Olorgesailie.
iii. Kariandus.
iv. Lewa Downs.
Archaeological sites in Uganda
i. Kafu Valley.
ii. Ntusi.
iii. Nsongezi.
iv. Lolui.
v. Magosi.
Other parts include: -
i. Omo and Hadar in Ethiopia.
ii. Kromdraai Swartkrans in south Africa.
iii. Sterkfontein in south Africa.
ADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY
1. It helps to identify the settlement pattern of the past society.
2. It helps to indicate the level of development reached by the past society.
3. It helps us to know and reveal the technology of the past society. This include technlogy on, pastoral, agricultural and commercial activities of the past man.
4. It help to identify the kind of economic activities carried out by the past society.
5. It reveals religious beliefs of the past man
6. It is accurate method of harvesting historical informations. Since it uses the advanced instrument such as carbon fourteen.
DISADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY
1. It is expensive.
2. It cannot reveal the language spoken by the past society.
3. It cannot give out the out reasons for historical events such as wars.
4. It needs full experts and advanced technology.
5. Poorly interpreted remains can bring false information.
6. It cannot tell anything about the past social organization.
4. ARCHIVES
Archieves: These are places where collection of public and private documents and old record are preserved. These documents include personal letters, early travellers and missionary records, traders writings, personal letters, private documents and and government files, political parties documents. Some of the documents are available to be used by public while others are confidential. These documents keep pre-colonial records, colonial records and post-colonial records.
WAYS GETTING ARCHIVES RECORDS
We can get archival document through two ways which are
i. Manual archives: This provide written records through hard form documents by visiting the respective archives.
ii. Digital archives: This is a way which provide written records through soft form by accessing online archives.
EXAMPLE OF ARCHIVES IN TANZANIA
There are various national, regional, district and village archives found in different parts in Tanzania which are: -
i. National archives in Dar-es-salaam.
ii. The Zanzibar Institute of Archives and Records.
iii. The National Records Centre in Dodoma.
iv. The Mbeya Records Centre.
v. The Arusha Records Centre.
vi. The Mwanza Records Centre.
vii. The Moravian Church Archives in Rungwe District.
vii. The Benedictine Fathers Achieves in Paramiho.
ADVANTAGES OF ARCHIVES
1. It preserves public and private records that have value to the society.
2. It ensure available of records for use.
3. It protect record not to be viewed by everyone.
4. It collects records from various places. For example, the nation archives have records from different regions of the country.
5. It registers records.
6. It restore the damaged documents.
7. It ensures continuation of historical records.
DISADVANTAGES OF ARCHIVES
1. It may lead false information, if author is biased.
2. Illiterate people cannot get historical information.
3. It is not easy to get information of society whose information is not documented.
4. It is difficult to get remote information from archives.
5. It is nonrenewable once disrupted either by wind or water.
6. It cannot show the language spoken by the past society.
7. It is very expensive.
5. MUSEUMS
Museums: These are special places or buildings where historical information and objects are preserved. it involves all terms, which shows culture, political economic and technological development from the past to the present. Objects can be early coins, clothes, and mineral cowries, religious and ceremonial symbols. Museum can be national, Regional, District and village.
MUSEUMS FOUND IN TANZANIA
i. National Museums in Dar es Salaam.
ii. Mwalimu J. K. Nyerere museums in Butiama (mara).
iii. Kalenga musiums (Iringa).
iv. The Livingstone museum (Kigoma).
v. The natural history museum (Arusha).
vi. Shinyanga mazingira museum (Shinyanga).
vii. The house of wonders (Zanzibar).
viii. Sukuma museum in Kisesa.
ADVANTAGES OF MUSEUMS
1. It preserves objects which are used as the teaching aids.
2. Museum preserves culture and national identity.
3. It used by researcher (source of information)
4. It acts as tourist center.
5. People learn about technological development.
6. Enable learners to arouse creativity.
7. It help to show level of technology.
DISADVANTAGES OF MUSEUMS
1. It needs knowledgeable people.
2. It is possible to distort information through biases by the museum attendant.
3. Poor preservation of the past items e.g. coins, pieces of cloth, slaves’ chain can distort information.
4. It needs extensive care to maintain its beauty or origin.
5. There is the problem of poor interpretation.
6. WRITTEN RECORDS
Written records: Are the documents which comprise written historical information. This includes books, letters, maps, magazines, journal, newspaper, minutes of meetings and conferences. Written records can be found in libraries, schools, colleges, universities, internet cafes, offices and religious institutions like mosque and churches.
Some of the written records are found in a form of books written in a long period ago. Example of such books are: The Periplus of Erythrean Sea that was written by Greek trader in the first century. Another book is Ptolemy's Geography written in the second century. These books describe the coastal people of east Africa and their trading activities. However, these books are also explain about the beauty of environment and culture east African people in different cities like Kilwa.
ADVANTAGES OF WRITTEN RECORDS
1. It is easy to get information.
2. Easy to make references
3. It is helpful in doing researches.
4. They can be kept for long time.
5. It ensure easy availability of historical information.
6. They provide resource centres.
7. They help to understand the level of technology of past societies.
DISADVANTAGES OF WITTEN RECORDS
1. It can give false information if they are biased by the author.
2. It is difficult to read everything from written records.
3. They are subject to be badly written.
4. Illiterate people cannot get information.
5. They concentrated on studying of famous society.
6. They brings difficult in interpretation.
7. They are highly influenced by cultural issues.
7. LINGUISTICS
Is scientific study and analysis of language. It includes study of sound, structure, information and relationship between various language groups.
ADVANTAGES OF LINGUISTICS
1. It helps to get information from various sources.
2. Enables to discover relationship between different people.
3. It helps to determine dates of historical event e.g. “Aluta continua” (Period of struggle for independence in Mozambique).
4. It help to identify language differences among people.
5. It helps on studying of societal culture.
6. It help to understand the origin of African languages.
7. It help to entertain people.
DISADVANTAGES OF LINGUISTICS
1. It consumes time and finance learning a particular language
2. The present language may be corrupted.
3. It bring challenge on translation.
4. Some languages have no longer existing.
5. It concentrated on studying of language of famous society.
6. It is very expensive.
8. ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology: Is the scientific study of the society’s cultural systems, beliefs, ideas. The study can give important information about movements, settlements and production activities of the past. Anthropologist: Is a person who deal with studying of society culture beliefs and ideologies.
EXAMPLE OF ANTHROPOLOGISTS
i. Allan Jacobs in the Maasai communities
ii. Monica.
iii. Godfrey Wilson on the Nyakysa communities.
iv. Gohn Battie on Bunyoro.
v. Aidan Southall on the Alur.
vi. Simeon Mesaki on the Sukuma communities.
ADVANTAGES OF ANTHROPOLOGY
1. It helps to identify different ideologies of the past societies.
2. It helps to harvest many historical information.
3. It help on classification of communities.
4. It helps on studying of society culture.
5. It provide knowledge on cultural competence.
DISADVANTAGES OF ANTHROPOLOGY
1. It based on bias
2. It deal with some few societies.
3. Difficult on interpretation.
4. The method is affected by environment.
5. It is highly influenced by culture.
DATING HISTORICAL EVENTS
Historians usually divide time into several categories namely:
Day: is a duration of twenty-four hours (24hrs)
A week: is a duration of seven days (7days) Month: is the duration of four weeks (4 weeks)
A year: is a duration of twelve months (12 moths) A decade: is a duration of ten years (10 yrs)
A century: is the duration of one hundred years (100 yrs)
A millennium: is the duration of thousand years (1000 yrs)
A generation: is the average differences on ages between a child and his/her parent. Age: is the period based on ma’s economic activities and type of tools used e.g. stone age, iron age, industrial age, science and technology age, etc.
A period: is determined by one continuous event lasting for number of years. Example: Period of slave trade in East Africa, Period of long-distance trade, Period of colonial rule in Africa.
NB: However, some points has chosen in order to divide time Year ZERO – present the year when Jesus Christ was born.
It is known as Anno Domino (A.D) meaning the year of the Lord All years before zero are called (B.C) meaning (Before Christ)
METHODS OF DETERMINING/FIXING DATES IN HISTORY
Dates are instrument in a science of history; these historians divided dates into four ways;
1. Recalling/events: here important events are recalled/remembered e.g. drought, famine, floods, birth, eruption of diseases etc.
2. Studying languages: Some names help people to remember dates of some events. E.g., Word “Karafuu” started when Cloves were introduced in Zanzibar.
3. Carbon 14: is a scientific method of determining dates. It used in the finding dates for remains of animals or plants, which died beyond 5000 years ago. Carbon 14 is a gas found in carbon dioxide, which exists in the atmosphere. It absorbed by plant and other living organisms. When died carbon 14 that starts to decay at a fixed rate from the time of death.
4. Orders of events: Ways of showing order of events, periods and ages, among them are:
i. Time graph
ii. Time chart
iii. Time line
iv. Family tree
1. Example of time chart
1. Time Chart
A time chart is a table that shows
historical dates and events in order they followed.
|
Year |
Key events |
|
0 A.D |
The birth of christs |
|
570A.D |
Birth of Mohammad |
|
622 A.D |
Mohammad flees from Mecca to Medina
(Hijra) |
|
632 A.D |
Prophet Mohammad dies |
|
641-708 |
The conquest of North Africa by the Arabs
from Middle East and introduction of Islam in North Africa. |
|
1487 |
Bartholomew Diaz rounds the Cape of Good
Hope |
|
1492 |
Suni Ali, the King of Songhai dies |
|
1492 |
Christopher Columbus discovers America |
|
1498 |
Vasco Da Gama reaches the coast of East
Africa (Malindi) |
|
1500A.D |
Beginning of Ntemiship in East Africa |
|
1503 |
Francisco D’Almeida, a Portuguese
commander conquers the East African coast and Establishes Portuguese rule in
East Africa. |
|
1652 |
The Dutch from Netherlands Establish
permanent settlement at the Cape |
|
1795 |
The British occupies the Cape of Good
Hope in South Africa |
|
1884-1885 |
Berlin Conference |
|
1905-1907 |
The Majimaji War occurred in Southern
Tanzania |
|
1922 |
Nyerere was born in Butiama, Tanzania |
|
1939-1945 |
The Second World War |
|
1954 |
The birth of Tanaganyika African National
Union (TANU) |
|
1961 |
Tanganyika gets her independence from
Britain and Nyerere become the first prime minister. |
|
1967 |
The Arusha declaration and introduction
of socialism and self-reliance (Siasa za ujamaa na kujitegemea). |
|
1978-1979 |
The kagera war |
|
1992 |
The re-introduction of multipartism in
Tanzania |
|
1995 |
The first multiparty election was
conducted in Tanzania |
|
1999 |
Mwl J.K. Nyerere the founding father of
Tanzania (Baba wa Taifa) dies aged 77. |
2. Time graph
3.Time line
4. Example of Family tree
Guiding Questions
1. Critically analyze six importance of studying history to man.
2. Examine six methods used to reconstruct the past history.
